Tips for using Watercolour pencil Crayons

Performance & Cost:

Water colour pencil Crayons are my favourite method of adding colour to line images. To be honest, I prefer Rexel Derwent artist's pencils to Stamping up--for one main reason: you can pull more colour off with the Derwent pencils when you add water and that gives a more painterly effect. ETA: What I mean is that--with the Derwent pencils--after you fill all the colour in with pencil, it actually lets you pull off a little colour and show the paper underneath (when you apply water.) In contrast, with the Stampin Up ones, the paper was kind of stained--the pigment wouldn't pull off the same way.

However, I may be just heavy handed with the Stampin Up ones, because I've used the Derwent for many years. Try building up colour with lighter pressure if you have the Stampin up ones. I must admit, SU's pencils are much more affordable & actually have the matching colours. To get the matching SU colours, you'd have to buy the Derwent 72 pencil set at 100.00 or more. SU's set of 27 is just $27.95.

How to Water colour with Pencils (I'm going to give lots of pointers that make it sound complicated, 'cause I'm nuts.) :0) But it really is fun & easy--It's well worth trying):

Step 1: Water colouring embossed images is easier. The raised embossing keeps you from going out of the lines & holds the water in. Stamp a sheet of embossed images for practice or to make several cards. I find Naturals card stock to be the most forgiving since it has dots in it. (If I make a mistake, it looks like a dot!) ;0) I prefer to work with my sheet on a clip board or a hardcover book with a smooth textured cover.

Step 2. Keep your pencils well-sharpened to get into nooks & crannies of your image. Hold the pencil at a 90 degree angle (or colour as straight up & down as possible.) This will prevent embossing from flaking off, but if it does flake, don't fret: the colour should still be there and no one will look that closely. :0)

Note: Below is an example of different sketch techniques you can use. All of these except "smooth ovals" leave a bit of textured look to your work. The softer you press the easier it will be to erase the penciled look. I personally LOVE a bit of that sketchy look though. This photo below shows the sketch techniques after the water:

This next photo below shows the sketch techniques before the water.They're in the same positions as above--sorry, I didn't think to label them until after I watered them down.)

You can add a little or a lot of pigment, & don't be afraid to go in with more penciling after your water has dried well. You can also mix colours to get different hues or to do shading.

Step 3: Colour the image. I coloured this one with small smooth oval strokes that overlap one another. It's a good idea to begin by choosing where your imagined light source will be. I chose upper left here, meaning the light appears to be shining from above and to the left. This will help you place shadows by concentrating more pencil colour to one side & leave blank or light areas as highlights on the opposite side. (The balloon is the most obvious example of this.)

Step 4: Go in with water. An Aqua painter is ideal, because it puts a small amount of water on the paper. I don't squeeze the aqua painter; Just use enough water to give rich colours that look painted, but not enough to be sloppy and wash out your colour (or warp your page.)

Leaving some white/light areas creates interest. The best way to do this is to work from light to dark penciled areas. (Your brush will pick up pigment as it moves along.) For instance with the balloon, I started at the top and worked my way down, then I removed a little pigment off the brush & blended the middle area in. This is handy for removing pigment to make lighter areas. If you are trying to lighten, be sure to clean your brush. (I use the back of my hand for removing excess colour, since it helps me work quickly.) If you make a mistake and go over the line, you can clean your brush quickly and go back in with water. It is a very forgiving medium in that way.

The squirrel's face in this picture above shows the result of my favourite brush technique for adding pigment: When blending the middle areas, I like to use a pouncing or stippling motion to get rough natural deposits of left over colour instead of lines. Left over pigment on your brush is also a great way to get into areas your pencil couldn't reach. If you want a finer tip roll your brush along the back of your hand until you can see that it is less spread out.

As I said earlier, go ahead and add more pencil after it is dry. I like the grainy softness of pencil added on top of water-coloured images and not watered down a second time. If you look closely at the balloons & hearts, you can see the effect of adding more pencil sans water:

I'm not expert by any means, but I've had tonnes of fun playing & finding my favourite tricks. If you've tried water-colour pencil crayons (or you decide to give it a go) I'd love love love to hear any tricks you use.

Thanks for stopping by,
:0) Mel

Hip Hip Hooray for SplitCoast Colour Challenges!

I've been trying to use my neglected stamps. This little duo is one of those--never used it before. You just gotta love their little faces! I was at a loss for what colours to use though, and so I was happy to find the colour challenge called for an awesome mix: Basic Gray, Bashful Blue, & Certain Celery.

Card Details: I've embossed & layered a lot. The embossing is done with craft inks (tone on tone) and clear e.p. in th "Paisley Print" background (retired SU) & a mystery paisley stamp [ETA: my favourite paisley stamp finally has a source: above the mark stamps.] The squirrelly critters & sentiment are from Hip Hip Hooray & are embossed with Chocolate Chip Craft ink & clear e.p. I've coloured them with water-colour pencil crayons (how I love them!) and then went over that with my aqua painter. SUPER easy. The ribbon is retired SU too (Must use hoard!--my new mantra) ;0). The Basic Grey is textured and measures 6x6 inches.

Thanks so much for taking the time,
:0) Mel

Masculine Tree Card

Does this look "guyish" even though there's flowers in the paisley pattern? haha. I'm loving the layering lately. Layers here: Always Artichoke (c.s. & d.p.); mellow moss & white. Layered ribbon: SU 5/8 grosgrain (dyed with Always Arti reinker) & Michael's. For details on the distressed embossing of the tree please see this post.

:0) Mel

P.S. Is there such a thing as too many posts? I can't stop myself! This is #43 this month. (I'm nuts!--or I have no life--BOTH--lol).

Punches: A New Use for your Round Tab Punch?

You've probably seen this done, but I hadn't, so I thought I'd share it. So simple. Just cut the tab punched shape in half and stick on. I thought it gave a masculine look the card. (I need to make more variety...) The details for this card are the same as this & this Snow Burst card, except it's on River Rock c.s. LOVE how River Rock goes with so many BasicGrey papers. Thank goodness the in-colours will be around for another catalogue, so I can stock up when Sale-a-Bration comes (It's from February 1st to March 17th this year.) Just 3 days 'til the retired stamp set list is out-->Play funeral march now! LOL. The retired accessories list comes out on Dec. 10th. MEEP!

Time for THE New Year's Resolution: I will not be the world's worst commodity fetishist--English translation: I will curb my unnatural love of stamping things! (Believe me?)

:0) Mel

P.S. More about Punches:

ETA: Make a round tab fold up message (by Wendy Bond)
Here's an amazing tutorial on making a punch guide (WOW! Trisha)
Round tab punch circle perfect for behind the scallop.
Round tab circle hole how-to & shaker
SplitCoast Which punches go with which sets (Post #10 here.)
Tips for sticky punches & layout ideas here.
Scallop circle Tutorial

A Christmas Card with 5 Stamp Sets

Back to a little something in the traditional Christmas colours. This card combines 5 of my favourite stamp sets: 1. "The Snowflake Spot" is stamped in white craft ink on the Mellow Moss card; 2. "Baroque Motif" Flourish is embossed (versamark & clear e.p.) on the Always Artichoke piece. 3. "Paisley" background is stamped in Real Red on the Cranberry Crisp piece. 4. "Oh so Lovely" berry branches are embossed (Handsome Hunter & clear e.p. on Naturals White c.s. then water-coloured & touched up with Crystal Effects (more on that in this post.) and 5. "Circle of Friendship" is embossed (Handsome Hunter on Naturals White c.s.)--then, I Water-coloured the center with Always Artichoke reinker.

Thanks for lookin'
:0) Mel

Poor Neglected Sahara Sand & Saving d.p. with Acrylic Stamps

Is it me, or is Sahara Sand a much neglected card stock colour? I was rootin' in the old 12x12 box, and I found my Simply Scrappin' kit "At Home (retired, sorry.) I'm off of scrap-booking for the time being, & I always forget how great these kits are for card-making. I made this card out of the cardstock & bits and I thought to myself what the heck is that neutral? It's Sahara Sand! (The kit also contains Buckaroo Blue, Chocolate Chip, & Cranberry Crisp. For those of you with stocks of those retired shades this might be a fun colour combo.) Other details for this card: the ribbon is dyed with Always Artichoke reinkers; there's a bubble sticker on the center (2 other stickers from the "At Home" kit.)

On another note, you know I'm obsessed with my new love object: acrylic stamps. This is one of the reasons why:You might be able to get that kind of spacing with wooden block rubber stamps, but I can't. :0) I embossed a whole bunch of petals on this BasicGrey designer paper. Me likey!!! Wanna know more about this particular set? Click here.

Mel

3 Trees & a Dash of Bling

Up in the middle of the night again (or is that still?) Sorry about the bad photo; sans flash was the only way I could get that middle tree to show up. Those Dazzling Diamonds really are dazzling! This is a tree stamp I got at the dollar store. I fell in love with the simplicity of it. It was still 3 bucks though! (harumph "DOLLAR" store???) ;0) Speaking of 3, I have always loved other people's cards with repetition of 3 images, but I have never made one until now. There's something visually soothing about repetition.

Card details: embossed silver trees. (Encore pad & silver e.p.) I've distressed these silver ares intentionally by heating the embossing powder until it dulls and disappears in areas (usually a faux pas.) I like how it looks like an aged coin or something... The center tree is done with heat'n'stick powder & dazzling diamonds. The little snow burst detail at the bottom is embossed in silver too & embellished with a gem brad. Paper: soft sky with snow burst stamped on with soft sky ink; always artichoke (c.s. & d.p.) Mellow moss card (5 and 1/4 squared.) Ribbon Michael's (and crooked I notice!) Must go straighten ribbon!

:0) Happy Craftin
Insomniac Mel

How Environmental (cheap!) am I?

This is probably boring visually, since this looks like the other card I posted using the Snow Burst set. BUT it might be a good post creatively--At least if you are like me and you want loads of layers but you try to save as much designer paper & cardstock as possible. I have a new kind of recycling trick for paper saving. I was punching out punches from my layers of card stock mats because cutting squares from the middle is a pain, but I have all these punched shapes that I may never use now-(especially since I love to stamp & punch for evenness.) So, I thought--while making these circle mats--that I'd cut circles out of the hidden layers. It's sooooo easy with the Coluzzle (or Creative Memories cutter, which is my fave. Bad S.U. demo BAD!) ;-)

Anyhow, thought I'd share that in case anyone else is cheap. (Ooops, I mean environmentally concerned! hehehe.)

Later Crafty People,
:0) Mel

Fabulous Sparkle

I'm loving this Fabulous Flowers bloom, and though the temptation to make yet another 3D flower was STRONG, I resisted. They can't all be hard to mail! LOL. Instead, this one was stamped on mellow moss c.s. in whisper white craft ink & sprinkled with dazzling diamonds. The center has Crystal effects with more dazzling diamonds. Other card stock used: Mellow moss, soft sky, always artichoke (cs & dp.) (Always artichoke was my first favourite S.U. colour & I'm returning to it now: it's got a richness to it.) Ribbon is from Michael's. I love how it goes with always artichoke & soft sky--better in person (as usual!) ;0)

Thanks for looking,
Mel

The Flip side of BasicGrey's Silent Night Paper

A second star burst card. Love love love this set. If you click the pic you might be able to catch a little glint of the bling, but it really is nicer in person. I must have been a crow in another life: shiny things mesmerize me!

DETAILS: I stamped the snowflake in "Not Quite Navy" craft ink & put Heat'n'Stick powder on right away. Then, I heat gunned it & added the Dazzling Diamonds. I recently learned that I was overheating my Heat'n'Stick. It only needs to change to clear then it's ready. Otherwise, you lose stickiness.The snowflake is on a dimensional. In its center, I've got one of those clear bubble stickers (from ScrapEssentials.) I stuck it on with Crystal Effects, though, since the dazzling diamonds might impede it sticking. The circle of whitish d.p. in the middle is "BasicGrey Figgy Pudding "Silent Night" (FIG-1011) and the turquoise is "Jolly" (FIG-1004) from the same line. I've stamped on it with Blue Bayou, Cool Caribbean, and Mellow Moss ink. The rest of the layers are distressed with a sponge dauber & the distressing tool. The ribbon is white taffeta.

Happy Stampin'
Mel

Snow Burst, BasicGrey, and Basic Gray!

Up in middle of the night again...I drooled over this Snow Burst set for a LONG time. (Well, long for me, lol.) I debated whether or not I should get it. Now, I'm so very glad I did. It was so much fun to make this card. I used my Basic Gray card stock for the first time. (Textured c.s. is so cool!) I sense a colour-love-affair coming on! It is a dreamy colour, no? Here, I've distressed it with silver & my SU distressing tool.

I'm making friends with ribbon. I dyed some S.U. stuff & most of it turned out great. The white taffeta takes reinker in a lovely way, and so does the river rock double stitched. (You can see it at the bottom of the pic above. BUT you have to use always artichoke reinker to get mellow moss ribbon.) The skinny white satin stuff with the lovely silver was a gift from Esther (the world's most fantabulous m.i.l.) I really am spoiled.

This was inspired by a gift of paper from my marvelous amie Kimmy. You can see her gorgeous creations in here scs gallery; she's too sweet she keeps sneaking me fancy papers. This one is the double-sided "Silent Night" from BasicGrey. (Practically killed me to flip it over, but I did manage to cut a big square outta the middle of it, so I might survive.) ;0)


Other card details: You can't see it so well (unless you click on the pic maybe?) but I've tries to mimic the snowflakes in the d.p. I used mellow moss, soft sky, blue bayou, and silver (embossed) to create homemade d.p. The swirls are"Swirls V2" by Rhonna Farrer; you can see them here. I wasn't pleased with the quality of them--at all--(until I sanded them). Now they're worlds better. This card also has mellow moss & blue bayou c.s., a gem brad and regular brads, as well as paper-piercing details.

Can't wait to make a card like the one in the mini where that center snowflake is cut out and looks just like jewelery. It'd make great ornaments.

Thanks for stopping by,
Mel

Covering Sketchbooks (or journals)

I promised a more complicated journal covering project in this 5 minute notebook covering post, so here it is. This is guaranteed to take longer than 5 minutes. ;0) I haven't done anything vintage looking in ages. This is kinda weird, but I like weird, hehehe. I had this old book that was falling apart & it was the exact width of one of my sketchbooks. Sorry for these bad photos. I have poor lighting. Looks better in person, honest.


STEP 1: Choose a sketchbook and an old book (which is the same width--or close to it) Make sure your book is one that you don't mind taking apart (secondhand stores or garage sales are great sources of course.) Sand the sketchbook cover & wipe dust off.


STEP 2: Prime the cover with gesso. (Don't forget the inside edges.) Let dry thoroughly.


STEP 3: Mix acrylic paints to get desired colour (that matches or coordinates with your book cover.) Paint over the gesso areas. You can speed up dry time with a hairdryer.


STEP 3 (continued): Again, be sure to get the inside edges of the cover. Let dry well before closing. Sand the whole book once its dry (if you want to take the gloss off.) You can't tell in these pictures because of the light, but my sketchbook looks matte like the vintage book cover...


STEP 4: Stamp with Stazon. Here, I've used a Fancy Pants stamp that is 6x6 inches. Let dry.


STEP 5: Add detail with a zigpainty (if desired.) I used gold to match the book cover detail.


STEP 6: Sand the stamping & the gold detail to distress it.


STEP 7: Measure designer paper to cover insides of cover. Apply plenty of good quality adhesive. I've used double-sided tape and a glue stick.


STEP 7 (continued): Adhere at one end and smooth down over the cover.


STEP 8: Adhere the book cover. I worked with mine in three pieces, so the sketchbook would open freely: front spine & back. If you apply a piece of very sticky double-sided tape (I love carpet tape) and you use crystal effects on the outside, then you'll be able to position it and have it stay. The bond is VERY strong.


STEP 8 (continued): adhere the spine in the same fashion and clamp it. These are just dollar store clips. (You could use string or rubber bands around the whole book.)


STEP 9: Weight the book down, so it dries flat and well-adhered. I used my tool box, but a stack of books would work well. (Just protect your books by placing a sheet of wax paper between them and your covered sketchbook.

Here's the finished project. An unusual book sandwich. Charles calls it "the book that ate a book"--LOL
Here are some other tutorials if you'd like to make your own books from scratch:

Dani's easy make your own sketchbook tutorial

Alison's Making a journal with a sewn cover

Photojojo's journal with photo covers

Thanks for checkin' this out. I'd LOVE to see any books you make or cover, so please leave me a link if you try it. :0)

Mel

I've got organizing on my brain, since I'm trying to clean-up my oink-sty of a "studio" (half of our BIG bedroom.) I thought I'd share an organizing tidbit that I'd go crazy without. If you click on the pic, you can see the details of my little scheme.

When I first got my reinkers I was frustrated by not being able to see which one was which without pulling them all out. So, I punched out little dots of cardstock & glued them on with a glue dot (just the right size.) Then, I put "c" on the craft ones (with a white signo gel pen on dark colours.) Finally, I added a dot of Crystal Effects to protect the cardstock. I found the addition of a colour list (from an old mini catalogue) was the best way to remember who belonged to which family. I will NEVER have these little devils fully memorized, so this is handy. The last step was to write the colour family (with ink type) on the side of all the boxes. Saves some time...

Thanks for lookin'
Mel

Looks like More Fancy Pants Paper. :0)

I love this paper (Fancy Pants "Wild Iris" #947.) Can't get enough of it. Same with the phrase from the new Hostess set "Time Well Spent."

This flower was made using the emboss resist technique on glossy white cardstock. Click on it if you'd like to see details. :0) First, I sponge daubed the turquoise colours on it, then I stamped the "Looks Like Spring" flower in versamark and embossed with clear e.p. Then I sponged black over it, wiped the excess ink and added silver zigpainty. Finally I used a sanding block to take off most of the silver. Then cut it out.

The beaded center was made with wire, from S.U.'s wire works. I just beaded it one loop at a time and twisted it together. Threading it through a hole punched in the middle of the flower-- and putting that little paper bit in the center--hides my messy wire work. It keeps it sturdy too. The flower is on top of a pop up glue dot. Other cardstock used: "Chocolate Chip," Cool Caribbean," and "River Rock."

You can't see it, perhaps, but the main card has versamarked acrylic stamps (fancy pants in the garden--again; I'm nothing if not repetitive. Comes from having my supplies in the bedroom when I work all night in the dining room & can't wake Charles to get stuff... lol.)

Happy Stampin'
Mel

Hand Dye S.U. Wide Grosgrain Ribbon

I still don't quite have the hang of dying S.U's grosgrain, but I love the range of colours you can get. Sometimes they turn out more muted, but I guess that's to be expected since the lightest colour in that width is Vanilla.

Anywho, this card is made with an old fave of mine: Artfully Asian. Here it's embossed on Naturals White cardstock in "Chocolate chip" and then water-coloured with reinkers. The Thank you is embossed in "Mellow Moss." Other card stock colours: "River rock," and "Mellow Moss."
The river rock has a Fancy Pants "From the Garden" stamp repeated in versamark & the edges are distressed with brown ink on a sponge dauber.

Thanks for lookin'
Mel

Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers-2

I'm joining a bloggin' group! Alana started all this. She must be SO proud. I'm super excited to be joining and can't wait to check out all those blogs!

A get to know me fact that my blogging probably won't hint at. I'm a mild-mannered person by day (painfully shy--actually in a social anxiety agoraphobia kinda way...no, really I swear!) and a wild stampin' child by night... I love that blogging creates a community of like-minded people.

ETA: I guess that's über-personal, but not very much info (told ya I was shy, LOL.) Well, I'm also, oddly enough, a people person. I have a deep love of people in general (sounds weird but it's true.) I'm turning 35. I have stamped for 2 years--For about 1 of those 2 years I've been a Stampin' Up hobby demo. I've also been with my partner Charles for two years. He is, beyond exaggeration, my soul mate; I kissed a lot of frogs to find my Charles Charming let me tell you! ;0). I'm an English major at SFU and am planning on teaching High School Students. [By the by, my diction & grammar is intentionally light on here (Ya! that's it....)] I have the 'capital D' Dream of changing the face of education as we know it. Crazy, huh? Yup, I know the potential for burn out, but I figure it's as good a way to go as any, heehee.

Here are the blogs of the great stampers in this group (and they'll be added to my blogroll too, for future reference.)

1. Tracy :: http://www.scrampindelights.blogspot.com/ (GROUP ADMIN)
2. Catherine :: http://paperaddictcatherine.blogspot.com/
3. Sara :: http://saracreativemind.blogspot.com/
4. Lori :: http://papercrafterlori.blogspot.com/
5. Lynn :: http://learntostampandscrap.typepad.com/
6. Savitri :: http://www.scrapbit.com/
7. AnnMarie :: http://annmariesstampingadventures.blogspot.com/
8. Karyn:: http://katpapercrafts.blogspot.com/
9. Kathleen:: http://kathleenh-myhappyplace.blogspot.com/
10.Jenn:: http://jenniferliebelt.blogspot.com/
11. Ruth:: http://www.sweetramblingz.blogspot.com/
12. Mel (me):: http://melstampz.blogspot.com/
13. Magallanes:: http://lifeofcrafting.blogspot.com/
14. Crissy:: http://scrapbookingcrissy.blogspot.com/
15. http://theluckyclucker.blogspot.com/
16. Alex:: http://http://www.sillybirds.blogspot.com//
17. Lori:: http://inkingaloud.blogspot.com/
18. Tina:: http://moonlightscrapsandstamps.blogspot.com/
19. Michelle:: http://www.inspirationblooms.blogspot.com/
20. Sandy:: http://www.papertransformer.com/
21. Alana:: http://www.godchickdesigns.blogspot.com/
22. Samantha:: http://www.ascrapaddictsblog.blogspot.com/
23. Elaine:: http://crafts.quixoticmiss.com/
24. Betsy:: http://www.betsysbitoheaven.blogspot.com/
25. http://www.flofollies.blogspot.com/
26. Cathrine:: http://cathystclair.blogspot.com/
27. Crystal:: http://crystalsscrapshack.blogspot.com/ (NEW)
28. Becky:: http://bouncyflouncyfunfunfun.blogspot.com/ (NEW)
29. Carol:: http://crazyforcrafting.blogspot.com/ (NEW)
30. Maria:: http://www.stampininspirations.blogspot.com/ (NEW)

Want to join in an SBS group? Click here!

Thanks for reading,
Mel

S&M Ribbon (& inroducing the new level 3 S.U. Hostess set)

Ribbon and I have an S & M relationship: Stupid Sadistic Ribbon and Masochistic me. I like to torture the ends of ribbon with a lighter (seals the ends to prevent fraying.) Ribbon likes to torture me more though, by looking like plop when I use it! This ribbon is a lot easier to use; it's from Stampin' Up: 5/8 inch grosgrain (Vanilla, dyed with reinkers.) But it still doesn't look like some of the ribbonlicious creations that I've drooled over.

Maybe I just need to follow the sage advice of this new S.U. set the demos all got recently: "too much of a good thing is a GOOD THING" and use a helluva lot more? Anybody in craft land have ribbon pointers?

Mel

Kissing is Fabulous!!! A photoless tutorial

Did that get your attention? ;0) Well, if that didn't this might... I have a 2 new flower sets, so you can rest easy that you might not have to see doodle this or delight in life flowers (for a while.) ;0)

I wanted to get funky with colour for this & Fancy Pants's "Wild Iris" paper was just the thing. Oh, I AM stupid, LMsillyAO: I thought this was BasicGrey paper, & I was all proud of how well I matched my fancy pants stamps for the embossed background. DUH! Now it all makes sense.

So, some CARD DETAILS: This is done on river rock cardstock (which I did match to the d.p. lol) & "Cool Caribbean" <--I know that's pure evil 'since it's retired, but I have no willpower.) It's all sponge-daubed with Turquoise & Brown. And there are good ol' "Chocolate Chip" mats on here too. I have been a good girl & have been punching out all my middles. Trying to watch my environmental foot print more. The flower is done in a few simple steps:

First, traditional kissing with a few pointers (Oh ya, I'm such a kissing pro! Muhahaha)

1. Ink background stamp with craft ink--stays wet longer. (Here: "Not Quite Navy" & Paisley Print.) Huff if you like.
2. Push your stamp on it. (This is Fabulous Flowers.) If you have trouble getting a full-kiss, :0) then moisten your flower stamp with a lightly wet paper towel and then kiss.
3. Stamp onto paper. (This card used three flowers stamped on "Soft Sky.")

Next part is stuff I made up (Improv is good in kissin!) ;0)

4. Mix weak reinker water and paint petals with it (or just use your aquapainter for subtle colour.) You only need to paint the ones that show. Let dry.
5. Cut around petals.
6. Cover petals with crystal effects. (again, only ones that will show, no duh! I know...) (Optional: distress it with a heat gun--makes bubbles.)
7. Shape the dry petals (to curl up a bit.)
8. Adhere the layers.

If you'd like to see a photo tutorial on kissing click here.

Thanks so much for checkin' in; I love to hear about it if you try some kissin'

XXX <--stampin' smooches,
Mel

Are Squares Out Yet?

Used some of my gazillion "homemade primas" for this one. Love having those around to use. Though I need more colour variety big-time!, so I'll have to make a few more batches. (With some different flower stamps too...)

CARD DETAILS: The embossing on here is all done with "Chocolate Chip" craft ink and clear embossing powder. I usually use stampin' spots, but I have a few large craft ink pads that I couldn't live without now. (Melodramatic but TRUE!) :0) The patterned paper is BasicGrey is Glacier from their Figgy Pudding line (FIG-1002.) The other colours of cardstock I've used are "Chocolate Chip," "River Rock," & "Blue Bayou." The dots are done with a white signo gel pen. The beads are metallic seed beads glued on with crystal effects. I've sponged lightly all over the card in "Chocolate Chip" ink with a sponge dauber. The ribbon is current S.U. in colour double-stitched.

Thanks so much for takin' a look,
Mel

Kim's "Kard" party :0)

Designed this card for my lovely friend Kim, who had a card party recently. It has seventeen layers. My favourite layers were the ones that made the little center piece. Great what punches let you build from paper isn't it?

The ribbon (from Michael's) is dyed with reinkers. It was 100% polyester, so I didn't think it'd take. It did though!

Stop by Kim's blog here. She has the most gorgeous cards on there.

Mel

Stamp 'em and Sell 'em! (Hopefully) :0)

Up at 12:50 AM since I thought it was 6:00ish. That's what I get for going to bed so early! Sooooo, here's a card. This is one I made a while back, but haven't blogged it. I'm posting these old ones, because I'm finally letting my babies leaves the nest. (LOL how dorky that sounds!) :0) Anywho, I'm putting my hoard of every card I ever made up for sale: there's about 120 of them. Hope some sell...

This one was especially fun to make cause it has lots of hodge podge & some random stamping. Fore more details see this scs post.

Thanks for taking the time to read,
Mel

Embossing on Transparencies & Shaving Cream Paper

I adore this little grasshopper. He was so much fun to make. Embossing on transparencies is actually really easy. (Of course, you can't heat them for too long...)<--- I love to overstate the obvious, huh? ;0) For more on this card click here or for how to do the shaving cream paper, here.

:0) Mel

Journal covering in 5 minutes

I love to watch the cooking channel and jot down recipes (some I look up later online, but some aren't available, so it's great to have a little book right by the t.v.) I actually saw how to do this project on t.v. too.

This was SUPER quick & easy:

1. Just stick an chipboard piece (OR: die-cut/hand-cut/punched shape, paper ribbon, glue-dots, taped/hot-glued pattern...) on a book with double-sided tape.
2. Then, put aluminum tape over it (mine was from the dollar store, but hardware stores carry it too.)
3. Burnish tape with back of your fingernail or something smooth (spoon? rounded pen cap?) The tape may crack a little, so it's good to have a colour underneath that you don't mind showing.
4. Add embellishments. (I added gem brads from S.U. & a little sanded DYMO label--see this DYMO post for more.)
5. Add a ribbon page marker if you like. Mine is retired SU ribbon with a spoon charm. It is held on by knotting it and melting the ribbon with a lighter, so it won't come undone.

Here's a more artistic version of this technique:
This is by Beverly Seymour; for her directions click here.

Stay tuned if you're interested in more complicated journal cover projects, :0)
Mel

Snappy Slip

Revamping cards is so much fun! For the old one (though nuthin' much has changed) see here or here. The paper adhesive ribbon is from K & Co. "Wild Saffron." Still feels like this card needs something. You might hafta see it a third time, LOL!

:0) Mel